Love Long Gone
I looked at my dad's face in the photo and said softly, "Dad... they're all gone now. The people who hurt you. The people who pushed you. They're all gone. I'm going to live well for you from now on."
The wind blew again, pushing the hair off my forehead. I pressed it down.
And I realized — that wind felt light. Like my dad's hand, the way he used to touch my hair.
I stood up, looked at the headstone one last time, and said, "Dad. I remember what you said. I'm going to live well."
Then I turned around and walked back down the path the way I came.
This time, I didn't look back.